Quote:
Chief executive Dermot Mannion said Aer Lingus was continuing to look at new 'long-haul fleet opportunities' from Airbus and Boeing.

So this looks like, as previously discussed in another thread like an interim solution while the real decisionis being weighed up. However, I like other will have to admit that given EI's recent history and current fleet future order looks Airbus's for the losing.

(According to RTE they have gone for the A3-30 version! Is that the one with the audi cockpit)

It is the new 30 liter engine A3, with largest engine ever to be put in a compact car and more than 2200BHP without supercharger. so powerful that with a payload of 4 passengers and one pilot, the car just jumps over the Pond from Ireland, to the east coast in a relatively short time.

Dream no small dream; it lacks magic. Dream large, then go make that dream real - Donald Douglas

So are we talking A330-200s, with new seats, new IFE, and an updated business product? Aer Lingus are really moving foward I mean next month they are starting services to Dubai, ordering new aircraft, expanding in Europe and lowering prices!

agreement is subject to final contractual discussions with both Airbus and General Electric, which will be completed shortly.

Both aircraft will be delivered in mid 2007 and will be based at Dublin airport. It is expected that the two new aircraft will service new long haul destinations, in anticipation of bi-lateral changes.

This brings to nine the number of Airbus A330 long haul aircraft in Aer Lingus' fleet. The airline presently has twenty-seven short haul aircraft of which six are Airbus A321s and twenty- one A320s.

"This is an important interim step for Aer Lingus and demonstrates our commitment to developing and enhancing our long haul network.

In the meantime, our evaluation of new generation long haul fleet opportunities from both Airbus and Boeing continues."

Quoting Pilot21 (Reply 16):Thanks BestWestern, any colour on whether the A333 is the X model or not?(It should be to allow them serve the mid US routes with decent capacity. DFW/ORD etc)

They don't say in their press release which says:

"Aer Lingus, "The low fares, way better" airline, today announced that it has signed a letter of intent with Airbus to purchase two new Airbus A330 long haul aircraft powered by General Electric CF6 engines. The agreement is subject to final contractual discussions with both Airbus and General Electric, which will be completed shortly."

I assume "Long Haul" means ORD or maybe even LAX, which is in range of the A333 from DUB. As I remember IE uses the A332 for LAXDUB, so the extra seats would be nice.

Quoting EI321 (Reply 20):Hmmmm.....An A333 - Ive a feeling thats for MIA and/or CPT. Well Airbus have won the interm battle...but will they win the war? This is a good hint that they will.

If my maps are correct, the longest distance IE flys is DUB-LAX, which is about
8300 km. That is in the range of the A333 and certainly the A332. But where is the capacity needed of a A333? My guess is JFK (lots of Irish in that area) as is BOS. LAX should be a stronger route than it is, but according to the IE website, they fly it only a three times a week. On the other hand, several IE flights for Feb are already sold out between DUB and BOS. Maybe

As for MIA, why? Maybe Orlando for Disneyland. Lots of my relatives are going there this winter while the Euro is still up over the USD.

As for Airbus having IE in their pocket, I agree. IE is Airbus's to loose, but they will have to work at it hard.

There's no point in getting a non-X A330-300, so I would think it would be a -303X.

Will they actually start three routes this Winter? I was wondering that (hence the question!) and whether they would be adding more capacity this Winter (the new 330s not coming until next year). They might add one or two this Winter (Florida and SFO, perhaps), but they'll also want to increase the DXB frequency.

Remember that they can rejig their schedules and add new DUB n/s without adding from SNN, but I'm not sure they can actually reduce the number of flights out of SNN (for political reasons).

Things are moving in the right direction - and not before time!

With John Leahy having pointed to a major flaw in the 350 (well, one of them), I wonder if EI will go down that road. Remember that as an interim aircraft, the 330 is ideal; no new type ratings and they can get a fine aircraft that can operate the routes they want.

It doesn't automaticall mean they're automatically going for 350s (it certainly points towards it), but if they want to go down the LH-loco route, the 787 is a better choice; the ability to configure the acft for nine abreast (c.40 more seats on a 787-10) must give the type a big advantage in seat mile costs - and that is important.

Quoting EIRules (Reply 23):I wouldn't be at all surprised if we didnt see just one new route announced and the other aircraft used as a stand-in while their current A333s are updated for an improved business class

A winter start would point to florida. Summer might see Detroit, a West Coast launch and PHL.

The world is really getting smaller these days

25 Smokeyrosco
: OK this is kinda off topic but i don't want to waste an entire new thread on it, but why are CO bringing in two 752's to DUB this summer instread of t

26 Kaitak
: They're doing the same to SNN as well (yes, and flights from SNN to the US with CO are actually quite cheap this Summer!). It's a pain because the 757

27 Shamrock350
: Aer Lingus flights are getting cheaper, they are flying more passengers and punctuality is now 91% on-time and 99% within 60 minutes. Things are looki

28 Poitin
: Why do you feel so strongly about this? Just curious. Unless something has changed, SNN will be on their "must visit" list for political reasons. I h